Redskins safety Sean Taylor dies one day after being shot in the leg

[RamWraith]

From CBS Sportsline

November 27, 2007

MIAMI (AP) -- Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor has died, a day after he was shot at home, said family friend Richard Sharpstein.

He said Taylor's father called him around 5:30 a.m. to tell him the news.



"His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me," said Sharpstein, Taylor's former lawyer. "It's a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans."

He said he did not know exactly when Taylor died.

Doctors had been encouraged late Monday night when Taylor squeezed a nurse's hand. But Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being transported to the hospital and that he wasn't sure how he had squeezed the nurse's hand.

"Maybe he was trying to say goodbye or something," Sharpstein said.

[RamWraith]

Sean Taylor did not make it through the night.

Out of respect to him and his family I am placing a link to the news post in the Rams forum. May he rest in peace.

Redskins safety Sean Taylor dies one day after being shot in the leg

[RamsInfiniti]

He's gone ....

For Washington Redskin's fans, they've lost one of their best players ...

For the Washington Redskin's, they've lost a teammate, a friend, a brother ...

For Sean Taylor's family, they've lost a loved one, a son, a father ....

I mentioned earlier in the year that alot of us just don't appreciate what we have. We gripe and moan because our coach makes bad decisions, and we gripe and moan because our front office doesn't bring in the "right" players, and we gripe and moan because our veteran backup QB can't take a snap ....

Yet, today, we are still alive ....

The St. Louis Rams may not be having a great season, but our team is full of WONDERFUL people. The next time you want to gripe, or the next time you want to run someone into the ground, someone you don't even know, remember that it is JUST A GAME and that these people bust their tails everyday for our enjoyment ....

We are unbelievably lucky to get to watch this great game every weekend and to cheer on OUR team no matter how good or bad they are ...

It may not be the case for all the players, but I assure you some of them love the fans as much as we love them ....

So the next time you watch a game, sit back and enjoy it, and let it all sink in, for it could be the last ....

I know I will certainly enjoy watching the Ram's whip the Falcons this weekend, but I'll be wearing a heavy heart for the Washington Redskins and all their fans ...

Unfortunately for them, they've had something special ripped away from them. My prayers be with them, and I hope all of you will send some to, to the Redskins organization and Taylor's family. Let's hope that they did not take him for granted as we so often tend to do ...

R.I.P. Sean Taylor ....

[RamWraith]

Taylor dies after being shot at home

Associated Press

Updated: November 27, 2007, 8:21 AM ET

MIAMI -- Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died early Tuesday, a day after he was shot at home by what police say was an intruder. He was 24.

Family friend Richard Sharpstein said Taylor's father told him the news around 5:30 a.m.

"His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me," said Sharpstein, Taylor's former lawyer. "It's a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans."

He said Taylor died early Tuesday at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he had been airlifted after the shooting early Monday.

Doctors had been encouraged late Monday when Taylor squeezed a nurse's hand, according to Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' vice president of football operations. But Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being transported to the hospital and that he wasn't sure how he had squeezed the nurse's hand.

"Maybe he was trying to say goodbye or something," Sharpstein said.

Taylor was shot early Monday in the upper leg, damaging an artery and causing significant blood loss.

"According to a preliminary investigation, it appears that the victim was shot inside the home by an intruder," Miami-Dade County police said in a statement.

But police were still investigating the attack, which came just eight days after an intruder was reported at Taylor's home. Officers were dispatched about 1:45 a.m. Monday after Taylor's girlfriend called 911.

Sharpstein said Taylor's girlfriend told him the couple was awakened by loud noises, and Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection. Someone then broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor, Sharpstein said. Taylor's 1-year-old daughter, Jackie, was also in the house, but neither she nor Taylor's girlfriend were injured.

Police found signs of forced entry, but have not determined if they were caused Monday, or the previous burglary.

The shooting happened in the pale yellow house he bought two years ago in the Miami suburb of Palmetto Bay. Eight days before the attack someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed at Taylor's home, according to police.

"They're really sifting through that incident and today's incident," Miami-Dade Detective Mario Rachid said, "to see if there's any correlation."

Born April 1, 1983, Taylor starred as a running back and defensive back at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami. His father, Pedro Taylor, is police chief of Florida City.

A private man with a small inner circle, Taylor rarely granted interviews. But, behind the scenes, Taylor was described as personable and smart -- an emerging locker room leader.

Especially since the birth of his daughter.

"From the first day I met him, from then to now, it's just like night and day," Redskins receiver James Thrash said. "He's really got his head on his shoulders and has been doing really well as far as just being a man. It's been awesome to see that growth."

An All-American at the University of Miami, Taylor was drafted by the Redskins as the fifth overall selection in 2004. Coach Joe Gibbs called it "one of the most researched things" he'd ever done, but the problems soon began. Taylor fired his agent, then skipped part of the NFL's mandatory rookie symposium, drawing a $25,000 fine. Driving home late from a party during the season, he was pulled over and charged with drunken driving. The case was dismissed in court, but by then it had become a months-long distraction for the team.

Taylor also was fined at least seven times for late hits, uniform violations and other infractions over his first three seasons, including a $17,000 penalty for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman during a playoff game in January 2006.

Meanwhile, Taylor endured a yearlong legal battle after he was accused in 2005 of brandishing a gun at a man during a fight over allegedly stolen all-terrain vehicles near Taylor's home. He eventually pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to 18 months' probation.

Taylor said the end of the assault case was like "a gray cloud" being lifted. It was also around the time that Jackie was born, and teammates noticed a change.

"It's hard to expect a man to grow up overnight," said Redskins teammate and close friend Clinton Portis, who also played with Taylor at the University of Miami. "But ever since he had his child, it was like a new Sean, and everybody around here knew it. He was always smiling, always happy, always talking about his child."

On the field, Taylor's play was often erratic. Assistant coach Gregg Williams frequently called Taylor the best athlete he'd ever coached, but nearly every big play was mitigated by a blown assignment. Taylor led the NFL in missed tackles in 2006 yet made the Pro Bowl because of his reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the league.

This year, however, Taylor was allowed to play a true free safety position, using his speed and power to chase down passes and crush would-be receivers. His five interceptions tie for the league lead in the NFC, even though he missed the last two games because of a sprained knee.

"I just take this job very seriously," Taylor said in a rare group interview during training camp. "It's almost like, you play a kid's game for a king's ransom. And if you don't take it serious enough, eventually one day you're going to say, 'Oh, I could have done this, I could have done that.'

"So I just say, 'I'm healthy right now, I'm going into my fourth year, and why not do the best that I can?' And that's whatever it is, whether it's eating right or training myself right, whether it's studying harder, whatever I can do to better myself."

His hard work was well-noted.

"He loved football. He felt like that's what he was made to do," Gibbs said. "And I think what I've noticed over the last year and a half ... is he matured. I think his baby had a huge impact on him. There was a real growing up in his life."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[RamsInfiniti]

He's gone ....

For Washington Redskin's fans, they've lost one of their best players ...

For the Washington Redskin's, they've lost a teammate, a friend, a brother ...

For Sean Taylor's family, they've lost a loved one, a son, a father ....

I mentioned earlier in the year that alot of us just don't appreciate what we have. We gripe and moan because our coach makes bad decisions, and we gripe and moan because our front office doesn't bring in the "right" players, and we gripe and moan because our veteran backup QB can't take a snap ....

Yet, today, we are still alive ....

The St. Louis Rams may not be having a great season, but our team is full of WONDERFUL people. The next time you want to gripe, or the next time you want to run someone into the ground, someone you don't even know, remember that it is JUST A GAME and that these people bust their tails everyday for our enjoyment ....

We are unbelievably lucky to get to watch this great game every weekend and to cheer on OUR team no matter how good or bad they are ...

It may not be the case for all the players, but I assure you some of them love the fans as much as we love them ....

So the next time you watch a game, sit back and enjoy it, and let it all sink in, for it could be the last ....

I know I will certainly enjoy watching the Ram's whip the Falcons this weekend, but I'll be wearing a heavy heart for the Washington Redskins and all their fans ...

Unfortunately for them, they've had something special ripped away from them. My prayers be with them, and I hope all of you will send some to, to the Redskins organization and Taylor's family. Let's hope that they did not take him for granted as we so often tend to do ...

R.I.P. Sean Taylor ....

[81~BIG-GAME]

Just tragic news, it does put things in perspective when a fit healthy young athlete is taken in such an awful way. And from what I've read about the guy he seemed to have really matured a lot since the birth of his child. Thoughts go to his family at this terrible time. R.I.P Sean Taylor...

[BlueTalon]

We had a similar experience in 2005 when Ken Hamlin was attacked and hit in the head, though thankfully he didn't die as a result.

I'm with RamsInfiniti -- it's a good time to get perspective and re-assess what we have.


I'd like to throw this in for consideration; it's also a good time to re-assess what you are willing to do and how far you are willing to go to defend those you love.

[JackieSlater]

Sad, very sad

[BM_Face]

This is a sad day for the NFL. May God bless his family and friends, I know they are in my prayers.

[jkramsfan]

Sad, very sad

it really does make you take a step back and think about what you have and how you shoundn't take anything for granted, it is a very sad time for Taylor's family and his little 1 year old daughter , hopefully they catch the bum who did this and they give him what he deserves.

[laram0]

Ahhh come on....you mean there's more to life than the NFL?

On a serious note.

This is very sad news. I heard an interview with Joe Gibbs yesterday on one of the NFL talk shows via Satellite radio. He was speechless then I can only imagine what he's feeling now. I'm still in a shock myself.

[Bruce=GOAT]

I know links are not allowed, but for anyone interested, type "Sean Taylor hits" in youtube and you can see what a remarkable player he was.

RIP to Taylor. I wish his family and friends all the best. And condolences go out to Redskins family for losing one of their own.

[bruce4life]

i know this is not a rams thread but i think we should all just take a moment to just reflect on life on how it can be taken away so suddenly... he was a great player just crazy to see him go

[UtterBlitz]

It is a very sad day. I have a hard time understanding why these things have to happen. It is tragic to see someone die in their prime with so many things to live for.

[Drew]

Sad day for everyone linked in whatever way to the NFL ...

it shouldn`t take something like this for everyone to get their life into context.. we should always live in that frame of mind where we cherish what we have.

R.I.P to everyone taken before their time whoever they are,from the local street tramp to the NFL star,everybody without exception !